Post Diagnosis

Once a diagnosis of prostate cancer has been made there are several investigations that may be performed that may help in deciding on a specific treatment. They may include radiological investigations, blood tests or minor procedures. Below is a summary of the tests that may be performed.

Chest X-ray (CXR)

A chest X-ray is taken to ensure there are no problems with the lungs.

Bone Scan

Prostate cancer, when it is no longer confined to the prostate often attacks the bones. Areas of cancer in the bones can be detected by taking a full scan of your bones and looking for increased bone activity. To conduct a bone scan, a small amount of radioactive liquidwill be injected into a vein, spreading throughout the body. Preferentially, it will go to sites in the bone where cancer exists. After a few hours, a special camera is used that can detect where the radioactive material has collected. You will lie on a table for the procedure and areas of your body with the most radioactive material will become visible on the camera.

PSMA PET CT scan

PSMA PET-CT is an imaging test to locate and determine the extent of prostate cancer. PSMA studies are performed on newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients to determine if the disease has spread to pelvic lymph nodes. The study is also performed on patients who have had their prostate gland removed (prostatectomy) and have an increase in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood levels.

contact qprostate to

Book a

consultation today

Dr Peter Swindle is a Brisbane urologist who specialises solely in prostate cancer and diseases of the prostate. His expertise lies in robotic prostatectomy and prostate brachytherapy.

Dr Swindle has extensive radical prostatectomy experience of over 2,000 cases including robotic prostatectomy, open radical prostatectomy and laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. He has established the Queensland Prostate Clinic in Brisbane, which functions to provide comprehensive information on the detection and treatment of prostate cancer.